North Korea has banned foreign tourists from visiting its newly opened mega beach resort, Wonsan-Kalma. The ban, which started on Friday, comes just weeks after the complex’s opening to a small group of Russian tourists.
The resort, which was hailed as “one of the greatest successes this year” by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, can accommodate nearly 20,000 guests. However, due to a recent newspaper article that suggested North Koreans at the zone were being mobilized by authorities rather than tourists, experts believe the ban is in place to avoid negative consequences.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had recently visited the complex and promised to support Russian travel to the area. However, analysts say the ban may not target Russians specifically, but rather due to difficulties in recruiting tourists from a distance and expensive trip costs.
Experts warn that if foreign tourists are not allowed, North Korea will struggle to break even on the resort’s construction and operational expenses, which were likely made with limited funds. With the country slowly easing COVID-19 curbs and reopening its borders, the ban is seen as a setback for international tourism in North Korea.
In February, North Korea had briefly opened its borders to a small group of international tourists, but Chinese group tours remain stalled due to ongoing pandemic restrictions. The Wonsan-Kalma resort’s failure to attract foreign visitors suggests that North Korea may need to reassess its tourism strategy.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-tours-beach-resort-russia-28a5e4d8fc3c5ca3be93bc7b440c6217